This adventure takes you through the Great Rift Valley on to our tented camp in Kenya's premier wildlife reserve—the famous Masai Mara. Explore diverse wilderness, crossing rolling plains spotted with famous acacia trees. Game drives are spread out over all three days, with excellent chances of seeing the 'Big 5'—lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. The varied wildlife and natural environment, in addition to the culture of the Masai people, come together to provide a spectacular safari experience.
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Day 1 Masai Mara Game Reserve (L,D)
The tour begins at 7:30am in the morning of Day 1 at your Nairobi hotel. Please be on time to meet your driver/guide at the front entrance of the hotel. A brief departure meeting will be held in the hotel reception area about general and specific aspects of the trip before setting off to the Masai Mara.
Travel from Nairobi, through the Great Rift Valley on to Kenya's premier wildlife reserve. In the afternoon we will arrive in the area, and get settled at our safari camp, our base for our time here. Then we head out for a late afternoon game viewing drive, with excellent chances of seeing the "Big 5" - lion, leopard, buffalo, elephant and rhino. The varied wildlife and natural environment come together to provide a spectacular safari experience.
The Masai Mara (also spelled Maasai Mara) is a game reserve in south-western Kenya, which is effectively the northern continuation of the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. Named for the Masai tribes people, who are the traditional inhabitants of the area, and the Mara River, which divides it, the reserve is famous for its exceptional population of game and the annual Great Migration of the wildebeest every September and October. The Great Migration is one of the most impressive natural spectacles in the world, involving an immensity of herbivores: some 1,300,000 wildebeest, 360,000 Thomson's gazelle, and 191,000 zebra.
With an area of 1510 sq km, the Masai Mara is not the largest game park or reserve in Kenya, but it is probably the most famous. The entire area of the park is nestled within the enormous Great Rift Valley that extends from the Mediterranean Sea to Mozambique. The terrain of the reserve is primarily open grassland, with clusters of the distinctive acacia tree in the south-east region. The western border is the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment of the Rift Valley, and wildlife tends to be most concentrated here, as the swampy ground means that access to water is always good and tourist disruption is minimal. The easternmost border is 224 km from Nairobi.
The Masai Mara is perhaps most famous for its lions, though the other members of the "Big 5" are as well found. Hippo are found in large groups in the Masai Mara and Talek Rivers, and many cheetah, zebra, impala, gazelles, hartebeest, warthog, ostrich, topi and the Masai giraffe, among other mammals, all consider the “Mara” their home territory. As well, the large Roan antelope and the nocturnal bat-eared fox, rarely present elsewhere in Kenya, can be seen within the reserve borders. Like in the Serengeti in Tanzania, the wildebeest are the dominant inhabitant of the Masai Mara, and their numbers are estimated in the millions. Around July of each year these ungainly animals migrate in a vast ensemble north from the Serengeti plains in search of fresh pasture, and return to the south around October. These numerous migrants are followed along their annual, circular route by an entourage of hungry predators, most notably lions and hyena.
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Day 2 Masai Mara Game Reserve (B,L,D)
We set off early this morning in order to witness the animal kingdom at its most active hour. Continue your safari in search for the park's large populations of wildebeest, buffalo, lion, elephants, and giraffes. Marvel at gazelles, impala and ostrich from wonderful vistas along the Esoit Oloololo Escarpment. Before returning to the safari camp, you may stop at a Masai village to learn about, and interact with, the local Masai people. You will also have a chance today or tomorrow to try the optional balloon safari, a fantastic once-in-a-lifetime experience.
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Day 3 Masai Mara Game Reserve (B,L)
Breathe in the fresh morning air as you enjoy the African sun as it rises over the savannah of the "Mara". Visit a watering hole while on a morning game drive, a perfect time and place for wildlife photography. Return to Nairobi in the late afternoon where your safari ends.
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USD40, usually included in most international air tickets
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Optional activity prices are subject to change and can fluctuate in relation to the high/low season and the number of people on a specific excursion. Not all excursions listed here may be available, due to season, or weather conditions. As generally not a lot of time is spent in start/end cities, you may want to arrange to arrive early, or stay longer after the trip in order to allow sufficient time to participate in optional activities there.
All prices are listed in US dollar amounts, per person, and are examples of the entrances fees charged - this does not include hiring transport to/from the destination. And the majority of the activities should be paid in local currency.
Nairobi
Bomas of Kenya $9
Giraffe Centre $7
Karen Blixen Museum $12
Nairobi National Park $40
Nairobi Safari Walk, Animal Orphanage and Impala Sanctuary $10
National Archives F.O.C.
National Museum $3
Railway Museum $3
The Carnivore Restaurant $30 set meal
Outside Nairobi
Masai Mara balloon safari $430
Masai village tour $20 per village
Please note, the optional Masai village visited in the Masai Mara is not to everyone’s taste. The Masai have been known to use aggressive sales techniques to pressure tourists into buying trinkets. G Adventures does not endorse this activity as we feel this experience does not represent an authentic village, nor do we feel that the entrance fee represents good value. Proceed with caution!
All prices are per person (unless stated otherwise), and are subject to change as services are provided by third party operators.
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Shopping for food will be done before the trip departs, fresh vegetables and fruit will be bought along the route from supermarkets, local shops and markets. Breakfasts will generally be cereals, if time allows a warm breakfast may be prepared. Lunches will be either en route, in the game park, or in camp, and will be light meals such as sandwiches or salads. All evening meals will be hot and will consist of a variety of continental and local dishes. Meals will be prepared by the crew with assistance from you if you would like to help cook, this is not compulsory. Vegetarian meals and other dietary requirements need to be specified prior to arrival. We do however ask you to wash your own dishes. Please note all bottled drinking water will be at your own expense.
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Land Transfers & Included Tours/activities: Many of the land transfers and included tours will be by private van, car or taxi, while others may be shared with other travellers depending on availability, nature of the activity and destination. For transfers, you may have a local non English-speaking driver only, for included tours, you will be accompanied by an English speaking local guide.
With sliding windows and a large pop-up roofs, these vans are designed for game viewing. Road conditions can run the full range of conditions from new to very poor. This style of travel is by no means luxurious, but the seats are comfortable and having our own private vehicles allow us the flexibility of making stops when needed, and to stay and watch that crouching lion prepare for an attack.
Speed governors set to 80kph are used on all vehicles to ensure a safe driving speed. Please note for your own safety it is mandatory to wear your seat belt at all times when in a vehicle.
All G Adventure vehicles are regularly serviced and follow a strict maintenance schedule. However given the long travel days and rough conditions of many of the roads in Africa, vehicles can and do breakdown on occasion. If such situations occur all drivers are trained mechanics and any vehicle issues are rectified as quickly as possible so as to not disrupt your trip. Your patience is requested if the vehicle you are traveling in happens to encounter a mechanical fault.
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Enjoying a safari camp in the African bush, Looking for and snapping photos of extraordinary wildlife in the Masai Mara Game Reserve
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Permanent tented camps (2 nts).
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7-seat 4x4 safari vehicle.
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2 Breakfasts, 3 Lunches, 2 Dinners.
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Entrance and game drives in the Masai Mara Game Reserve.
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Camping in Kenya is truly an adventure. You will be able to get off the beaten track to get a first-hand experience of the beautiful wilderness and nature. While camping at the Masai Mara, we stay at a basic permanent, private tented camp. The camp has simple walk-in “safari tents” with single beds & mattresses. There is no electricity for lights or charging batteries. The facilities here are basic, though there are flushing toilets and hot water when the boiler is working.
The idea of camping in Africa can be a daunting one. For those not accustomed to ‘roughing it’ for a few days we offer a full camping service. All tents are pitched for you, meals are prepared and served and the washing up is done by G Adventures staff. This leaves you with more time to enjoy your surroundings and is ideal for first-time campers who may be worried about the challenges such a trip can entail.
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